Shloka 19
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
तस्मै बाणांस्ततो जिष्णुर्निर्मुक्ताशीविषोपमान् | प्रेषयामास संक़्रुद्धो ज्वलितज्वलनोपमान्
tasmai bāṇāṁs tato jiṣṇur nirmuktāśīviṣopamān | preṣayāmāsa saṅkruddho jvalitajvalanopamān ||
Pagkaraan, si Jiṣṇu (Arjuna), na nag-aalab sa galit, ay nagpaulan ng mga palaso sa kanya—gaya ng mga makamandag na ahas na kagagaling lamang sa pagkakawala, gaya ng naglalagablab na apoy—upang pigilin ang pagsalakay ng kalaban sa pamamagitan ng nakalalamang na lakas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya impulse to meet aggression with decisive force, while implicitly warning that anger (saṅkruddha) intensifies violence; ethical strength lies in directing power toward protection and restraint rather than mere wrath.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna, angered in the confrontation, releases a rapid barrage of arrows at his opponent, described through vivid similes—like freed venomous snakes and like blazing fire—to convey their lethal speed and intensity.